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Poll: Asking for a friend – what do you understand by "6x4"

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Poll: Asking for a friend – what do you understand by "6x4"

#1

Post by ColinWright »

Recently I've had an enlightening discussion with a colleague about notation in maths and computing. I don't want to "lead the witness" so I'm not going to repeat it here, but I'd like to ask about the internal understanding of individuals in this community.

What do you understand by the expression "6 x 4" ? I fully expect that I haven't covered all the possibilities, I know that self-selected polls are useless for proper statistics, I know that some people just click all the options, etc. All that not withstanding, I'd be interested to see what people think.

Thanks.

Re: Poll: Asking for a friend – what do you understand by "6x4"

#4

Post by ghshephard »

jacquesm wrote: post #2

A big chunk of wood.

First thought I had as well. In fact, it was the only one I had. I was thinking, "I know what a 2x4 is, and a 2x6 is, a 6x4 is probably a really large beam? But why didn't he call it a 4x6?"

I read through the possible poll answers and realize I was totally missing the question.

Re: Poll: Asking for a friend – what do you understand by "6x4"

#5

Post by jacquesm »

ColinWright wrote: post #3
jacquesm wrote: post #2

A big chunk of wood.

Thanks for that - really helpful. Reveals some of your background nicely. Related, I was seriously tempted the other day to apply a "Clue by four" to one of my customers. Hard to resist ...

Neat :) I have that temptation too sometimes, must. not. give. in.

Missed you on my tour of the UK, I really should have thought of you, that was stupid of me. Write-up is here: http://jacquesmattheij.com/journeyman-project-trip-1-united-...

Re: Poll: Asking for a friend – what do you understand by "6x4"

#6

Post by bdfh42 »

Before looking at the full question I started with a timber size. Then thought it might represent an area. Within the context of the full question I suppose it is:

a) An Area or b) Six, four copies of

but the little automated arithmetic unit at the back of my brain keeps "shouting" 24.

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